On Tuesday Tim Gow very kindly gave me a small collection of 15mm-scale Ancient Chinese and Indian wargames figures.
Despite having been a wargamer for over fifty years, these are the first Ancient figures that I have ever owned. In fact I have very rarely fought a wargame set during the Ancient period and have been know to refer to them as being fights between men with pointy sticks ... hence the title of this blog entry.
As Tim pointed out to me, I can easily use these figures as opposition for my imagi-nation Colonial wargames armies ... and that is exactly what I intend to do.
So what is in my new collection?
Chinese (or possibly Chinese)
This is not going to be a high priority project for me ... but it certainly gives me something to work with in the future.
Despite having been a wargamer for over fifty years, these are the first Ancient figures that I have ever owned. In fact I have very rarely fought a wargame set during the Ancient period and have been know to refer to them as being fights between men with pointy sticks ... hence the title of this blog entry.
As Tim pointed out to me, I can easily use these figures as opposition for my imagi-nation Colonial wargames armies ... and that is exactly what I intend to do.
So what is in my new collection?
Chinese (or possibly Chinese)
- 25 Light Cavalry (Tartar?)
- 6 Cavalry (Chinese/Mongol?)
- 15 Halberdiers (Chinese)
- 4 Crossbowmen (Chinese)
- 15 Mounted Archers (Indian?)
- 8 Lancers (Indian?)
- 11 Spearmen (Indian?)
- 9 Archers (Indian?)
- 1 Chariot (Indian?)
This is not going to be a high priority project for me ... but it certainly gives me something to work with in the future.
Beautiful armies!
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff and hopefully they'll be involved in one of your excellent AAR's at some point :-)
ReplyDeleteI have dabbled with ancient wargaming for 35 years and still refer to it as the 'Pointy Stick' era.
ReplyDeletePhil,
ReplyDeleteThey are nice, aren't they!
All the best,
Bob
Blaxkleric,
ReplyDeleteI would like to re-base the figures and touch up the odd blemish etc. before I use them. Hopefully this should not take me too long ... and then they will definitely appear on my tabletop.
All the best,
Bob
Tim Gow,
ReplyDelete'Pointy stick' sums it up so well that I don't know why the Society of Ancients doesn't change its name to the Society of Men With Pointy Sticks.
All the best,
Bob
Despite the number of pointystick men in my armies I've always had a fondness for the club and stone men.
ReplyDeleteStill, nice to have options. Zthe tatars look esp appropriate for late 19thC games but they all look like have a role to play.
Ross Mac,
ReplyDeleteWhenever I see or hear the term 'club men' I immediately think of middle-aged, red-faced, ex-Indian Army Colonels sitting in a Gentlemens Club somewhere in St James's. (I have been to several such clubs ... and people like this do exist!)
I have plans for these figures ... but for the time being they are on my pile of 'pending' projects.
All the best,
Bob
The 25 light cavalry are Huns (from Tabletop miniatures now 15mm.co.uk).
ReplyDeleteIt'a a DBA army, 1x 3cv/Kn & 11x LH.
The inf are a mix of Indians & Chinese (some look like Tin Solder).
The cavalry are a mixed bunch with what look like Mike's Models Turks, unknown Essex & various others.
Neil
I've played ancients since my Airfix chaps of the mid 60s enlivened my childhood.
ReplyDeleteI hope you really enjoy your pointy stick men and that they give you great gaming ahead...
Alan
Neil Patterson,
ReplyDeleteThank you very much. That is very helpful information.
I think that I can use the Huns for generic Central Asian/Chinese light cavalry. Likewise the Turks will make passable turban-wearing Mounted Archers. Certainly I shouldn't have any problem using all the figures for Asiatic-style imagi-nation armies.
All the best,
Bob
Tradgardmastare (Alan),
ReplyDeleteI am not sure if owning these figures will turn me into an Ancients (rather than just an ancient) wargamer ... but you never know!
Ever since reading the collected Conan stories I have had a hankering for running a Hyboria-style campaign. Perhaps owning these figures will be the first step to doing this.
All the best,
Bob
Bob,
ReplyDeleteGreat minds think alike ...
I currently trying to do some Hyboria inspired project with 28mm figs and Ross McFarlane's rules....
Go for it I say!
Alan
Tradgardmastare (Alan),
ReplyDeleteIt was your recent request for information about Tony Bath's HYBORIA campaign that reminded me that I had read the collected Conan stories ... and set me thinking about doing something similar. It would certainly make sense. I have some figures, I have some rules, and I have the inclination to do it. All I need now is the time!
All the best,
Bob
As a ;ong term Ancients and S&S person, I can confirm that Mr Pointy and his friends can provide a great deal of pleasure.
ReplyDeleteXaltotun of Python,
ReplyDeleteNow that I have some 'men with pointy sticks' in my collection, I hope to find out how much fun they can be to wargame with.
All the best,
Bob